What’s What Wednesday: How Does PTSD May Affect Your Daily Life?
How does PTSD may affect your daily life?
After experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, the individual may develop a group of symptoms that may impair their social and occupational functioning. According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual V, people with PTSD may experience all or some of the following symptoms:
Behavioral: agitation, irritability, hostility, hyper-vigilance, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation
Psychological: flashbacks, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust, avoidance of people, places, sounds, objects, conversations or anything that could remind them of the traumatic event.
Mood: inability to feel pleasure, guilt, loneliness, depression.
Sleep: insomnia and/or nightmares
Also common: emotional detachment and unwanted thoughts.
Individuals with PTSD are at much greater risk for developing a number of other mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders and substance use disorders. In addition people with PTSD are also six times as likely as someone without PTSD to attempt suicide.
In addition to mental health problems, people with PTSD seem to be at greater risk for physical health problems, including pain, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, respiratory problems and sexual dysfunction.
It is not entirely clear as to why people with PTSD have more physical health problems. However, it may be due to the fact that the symptoms of PTSD result in the release of stress hormones that may contribute to inflammation and eventual damage to a person’s body.
Treating PTSD may decrease the development of any co-morbid disorder. PTSD can be treated through medication and psychotherapy. Seeking for help may just save the individual’s life. If you or someone you know may be experiencing any of these symptoms, please call us to (239) 495-7722 for a free phone consultation.